Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thero
Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thero | |
---|---|
Religion | Buddhism |
School | Theravada |
Sect | Amarapura Nikaya (for registration purposes) |
Order | Sri Kalyaniwansa Nikaya |
Personal | |
Nationality | Sri Lankan |
Born |
Iriyawetiya, Kiribathgoda, Sri Lanka | 1 July 1961
Senior posting | |
Based in | Sri Lanka |
Title | Vener |
Religious career | |
Teacher | Dambagasare Shri Sumedhankara Thero and Dikwelle Pannananda Thero |
Initiation | Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery |
Website | http://www.mahamevnawa.lk |
Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thero (born 1 July 1961) is the founder of Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery.[1]
Spiritual biography
Ven Gnanananda Thero was born to the Roman Catholic family, parented by Cristy Kabraal and Violet Perera. The circumstances that followed his birth were 'miraculous',[2] as the whole family became Buddhists just 6 months after his birth, going so far as to give up their main source of income: 'animal husbandry for meat' (a livelihood advised against by the Buddha). Opportunity for Buddhist education was therefore available to him from childhood.
Ordained on 26 March 1979 (i.e. at age 17) under Dambagasare Sumedhankara Thero and Dikwelle Pannananda Thero at Seruwavila, he received a traditional Buddhist academic education and entered the University of Sri Jayewardenepura.[3] Having understood the inability to achieve what he wanted in a university, he quit and started visiting meditation centers and hermitages.
Having practiced and preached Dhamma for years, he founded Mahamevnawa in 1999 under the guidance of Kotapola Amarakitti Thero, in Waduwava, Polgahawela. Mahamevnawa is currently spreading steadily under his guidance (It has around 40 branch monasteries for meditation throughout Sri Lanka, and overseas: Canada , USA , Australia ), UK , Germany Italy, Dubai, South Korea and India.
Teachings
He now teaches Buddhism (Theravada), emphasizing the need to practice it in pure form (i.e. as in the Suttas) and casting off what is not advocated by the Buddha.
Our Teacher, the Buddha has taught that birth as a human being is, indeed, a very rare achievement. Fortunately, we have now obtained that rare achievement. Yet, we have to remember that man's greatness does not lie either in his nationality, caste, clan or any such feature. His greatness depends solely on his conduct. Man's experiencing of happiness and suffering, too, is related to his three modes of action, namely mental, verbal and physical action.The Buddha devoted all his life to save man from dukkha - suffering. We are followers of the Buddha and our fervent hope is to see a world full of people who are freed from dukkha.
Mankind's wonderful treasure of wisdom is the Teaching of the Buddha. This doctrine illuminates our lives bringing happiness and joy. Go in search of this wonderful Dhamma yourself, lead your life accordingly, get rid of your suffering and join that fortunate band of people who experience the Supreme Bliss
— A Message by Venerable Thero[4]
Thousands of practicing Buddhists are associated with Mahamevnawa.
"Maha Sthupa Wandanawa" [5] conducted on 2 February 2008 at Anuradhapura with participation of over 100,000 disciples, and "Somawathi Stupa Vandanawa" [6] conducted on 8 May 2010 at Somawathiya temple with participation of over 1,000,000 devotees, bear evidence for the popularity his Damma program has achieved.
Thero reintroduced the usage of "Namo Buddhaya" to the Sri Lankan Buddhists as a way of Buddhist greeting. Also, there was a weekly dhamma discussion program telecasted on TNL television named "Namo Buddhaya" in which the Thero participated.[7]
Publications
Thero has written many books based on the teachings of Buddha. These publications are aimed to emphasize uncontaminated Buddhism that can be comprehended by anyone who reads it.
Thero has also commenced a culture in Sri Lanka (traditionally known as Damma Island – Island full of Buddha’s Teachings) to preach Buddha’s teaching in the national language of Sinhala, even though the teachings are traditionally preached in the Pali language. Many disciples believe that they are now able to preach Buddha’s teachings with the right understanding
See also
References
- ↑ About the Founder, Official English Website of Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery
- ↑ Short Spiritual Biography of Bhikku Ñānānanda (Buddha Vision); Video Clip depicting it
- ↑ 'Only four people attended my first sermon' - An article from 'Daily News' News Paper
- ↑ www.mahamevna.org
note: at the moment this URL is used for main Sinhalese website; hence the source is not available online. - ↑ Ruwanvaliseya Picture Gallery (Sinhalese)
- ↑ Somawathi Stupa Vandanawa video
- ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ra-gxbr29FM
External links
Dhamma Sermons/Articles by Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thero
- Download MP3, PDF of Dhamma Sermons (in Sinhalese)
- Dhamma Articles (in English)
- Meditation/Bhawana – Thisara FM (Sinhalese, followed by English Interpretation)
- Video Dhamma Sermons (Youtube Channel)
Other
- 'Master of meditation' – An article from 'Sunday Times' News Paper
- 'Only four people attended my first sermon' – An article from 'Daily News' News Paper
- Googlepage of BuddhaVision
- 'Writer in the making' – An article about a lay disciple from 'Sunday Observer' News Paper
- Revealing the heresies of Swarna and Presenting the Truth to the Intelligent
- 'Budusarana' seminar : 'Secret scheme against Buddhism' – an article from 'Sunday Observer' News Paper
- Lanka Web News: 'Beware of Swarna's Buddhism' (by Ven. Henepola Gunaratana Thero)
- Sinhala Transcript of TV program: "Urumayaka Ulpath"
- "Inauguration of the Mahamevnawa Bhavana Monastery of New Jersey, USA", LankaWeb News
- "Inauguration of the Mahamevnawa Bhavana Monastery of New Jersey, USA", lankaeverything.com